Engine-driven electric generator unit



C. E. REDDIG.

ENGINE DRWEN ELECTFHC GENERATOR UNIT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1920.

1,432,903 Patented Oct. 2-1, 1922.

Patented 0a. '24,- 1922.

STATES PATENT-OFFICE.

CHARLES E. BEDDIG, OE RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ENGINE-DRIVEN ELECTRIC GENERATOR UNIT.

Application filed September 17, 1920. Serial No. 410,817. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. REDDIG, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Richmond-Hill, Long Island, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Driven Electric Generator Units, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to engine driven electric generatin units and is particularly, although not exc u sively, useful in connection with units of this kind which are adapted for operation in.connection with a storage battery to furnish light and power on farms and in other places where a supply of electric current is not available. I

The general object of this invention is'to provide in such a unit, new and improved means whereby the engine and the generator may be cooled by air drawn or forced through them during operation. The invention which attains this object is characterized bya fly wheel which is located between the engine and the generator and serves as a partition between the ventilating passages through the engine'and through the genera tor, and which carries on its opposite sides fan blades which serve respectively to draw or force air through the ventilating passages ofthe engine and generator.

he invention will be understood from the fol owing description taken in connection -with the accompanying drawing in which an embodiment of it is described and illustrated. In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing an engine driven electric generating unit embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the fly wheel which carries two sets offan blades, as hereinafter described.

Referring to the "drawing, the power unit is shown as-comprisin in general, a base 3, an engine 4 mounted t ereon, and a generator 5 bolted to the engine frame. Except for indicating that'the engine is provided with ayentilating casing 6 having openings 7' through which air maybe caused to pass for the purpose of coolmg the engine, the detailsjof the latter are not shown since they form'no part of the present invention. The generator 5 is also so constructed and so pro vided with acasing 8 that air may be caused to pass through it for the purpose of cooling 1t during operation; its armature is shown at 9 and the field coils at 10. The engine 4 and generator 5 are direct-connected and between them on their common shaft 11 is a fly wheel 12. The fly wheel 12 is axially imperforate and serves as a partition between the ventilating passages through the engine and those through the generator. On the side of the fly wheel toward the engine, fan blades 13 are provided which cause a current of air to pass through the engine casing and through a screened opening 14: between the engine and generator frames. The other side of the fly wheel 12, whichis toward the generator, is also provided with fan blades 15 which cause air to pass through the generator and through openings 16 in the generator frame. The fan blades 13 and 15 may be of any suitable form. As shown, fan blades 13 extend axially from the face of the fly Wheel 9 and at theirfouter ends are covered by-a plate 17 while fan blades 15, which are much smaller, extend axially from theot'her face of the fly wheel and are not covered at their ends. This con struction is permissible, because the volume of air which it' is necessary to cause to pass through the engine casing is much greater than the volume of air which it is necessary to pass through the generator, in order to provide for the necessary cooling. In the device shown, as is indicated by the arrows, the fan"blades are so arranged that air is drawrtfthrough the engine casing and the generator and expelled through the openings 14, and 16. But it is obvious that it would be possible to arrange the fan blades so that air would be forced through the engine casing and the generator in the opposite directi'ons.

- 1 What is claimed is:

j 1. In combination, an engine having a ventilating casing, a. generator constructed to permitthe passage of air therethrough- Y and direct-connected to the engine, a

wheel located between the engine and the generatorand serving as a partition between the ventilating passages through the casing of the engine and through the generator, 2.

and another set of an'blades located on .gine and the generator, tan blades'cerried by the opposite faces of the fly Wheel, and

ceslngs cooperating with the engine, the

generator and the fly wheel, whereby the en- 'gine and generator are cooled by two independent currents of air caused to. pass through-the casings by the fan blades.

In witness whereof, hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of September, A. D.

" CHARLES E. REDDIG.. 

